17:55 Curragh

Saturday 15 July 2017

All15:1015:4516:2016:5017:2017:5518:3019:00

Darley Irish Oaks (Fillies' Group 1)

Off time: 17:56 | Winning time: 2m 32.13s

(8)

Alluringly²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 106

16/1

No match for Enable in the Oaks (third) and similar behind Coronet in the Ribblesdale at Ascot since (sixth). Honest filly but likely aiming for place money at most.

Form: 75-1236

(1)

Aurora Butterfly^h1¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W J Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 93

66/1

Maiden winner at Clonmel earlier this year (1m1½f, good) and since run well to be second in Listed 7f contest at Carlisle. Stepping into a new league now.

Form: 2513

(10)

Bean Feasa^t²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 101

33/1

Winner of a Group 3 at Leopardstown over a mile earlier this season before struggling in the Irish Guineas here over the same trip. No luck in hot 1m Royal Ascot handicap last time out and makes little appeal for this first attempt at mile and a half in amongst star fillies.

Form: 8-52150

(4)

Bengala^h1²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J M Oxx| OR: 94

33/1

A €350,000 purchase at the sales, the Pivotal filly was a winner over 1m2f at Leopardstown on debut. Well held in the Munster Oaks last time out over this trip and facing difficult task here.

Form: 135

(9)

Coronet²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: O Peslier| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 108| D

6/1

Game winner of the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out over this trip, could have more to offer and one of the likely threats to the favourite.

Form: 11-351

(6)

Enable⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 120| D

2/5

Cheshire Oaks winner stepped up markedly on that effort when outstaying favourite Rhododendron to win the Oaks at Epsom last time out. Getting better the further they travelled on that occasion and will take some stopping if in the same mood now.

Form: 1-311

(3)

Eziyra^h³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P J Smullen| T: D K Weld| OR: 106| BF| C

20/1

Runner-up in Listed Leopardstown contest over this trip last month on return to action, that was a decent start. Should have some races ahead of her this summer but unlikely to start by claiming this prize.

Form: 2121-2

(5)

Intricately¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 108| C

20/1

Bit of a letdown in four runs this season, albeit she has twice been tasked with taking on Winter in Classics. More worrying was tame surrender in the Pretty Polly here this month over 1m2f.

Form: 10-4046

(7)

Naughty Or Nice²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Colin Keane| T: J M Oxx| OR: 99

16/1

Won her first two races this season in Ireland, including gamely over 1m5f at Navan, and can be forgiven flop behind Coronet in the Ribblesdale given rider lost irons 3f out. Still left needing improvement to feature at the business end but could find some more.

Form: 110

(2)

Rain Goddess^t¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 110

7/1

Second in the Pretty Polly here over 1m2f last time out having also run well in Royal Ascot handicap over a mile (second). Stable are in scintillating form and shouldn't be discounted. Needs to improve to win.

Form: 1-74522

Forecasts

Enable (2/5), Coronet (6/1), Rain Goddess (7/1), Alluringly (16/1), Naughty Or Nice (16/1), Eziyra (20/1), Intricately (20/1), Bean Feasa (33/1), Bengala (33/1), Aurora Butterfly (66/1)

ENABLE is tough to oppose here given the manner in which she battered Rhododendron into submission at Epsom last time out. She looks to simply have too many guns for her rivals and, with a small field and a fair track, she should get her chance to shine. There could well be more to come from her, and the others will do well to lay down a threat if that is the case. Her stablemate Coronet was a good winner of the Ribblesdale last time out and is well-placed to take advantage should the favourite misfire. Rain Goddess cannot be ruled out from improving with Ballydoyle's string in majestic form while Naughty Or Nice could prove a good deal better than she had the chance to show at Ascot.